Brush and the like



April 22, 1941. D. c. DANlELs BRUSH AND THE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 24,1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l u III/111;, a r

lllllllllllll lll/11111111 DWIGHT C. 3A/WELS ZSnventor WJGHT C. bA/WELS(Ittorneg D. c. DANIELs 2,238,993

BRUSH AND 1HE LIKE Original Filed Feb. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April22, 1941.

Patented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUSH AND THE LIKEDwight C. Daniels, Worcester, Mass.

Original application February 24, 1938, Serial No. 192,342. Divided andthis application October 10, 1938, Serial No. 234,238

(ci. 15-2zi 6 Claims.

This invention relates to brushes and the like, and more particularly tosmall portable appliances, such as electrically driven tooth brushes,which are held in the hand while in use. This application is a divisionof my prior application Serial No. 192,342, tiled February 24, 1938.

Tooth brushes as heretofore constructed for electrical operation havebeen found unsatisfactory and subject to many diillculties. The motionimparted to the bristles has been so limited as to render the apparatuscomparatively ineffective. Water has had ready access to the electricalcoils and switches, and this has not only greatly shortened the life oithe various parts but it has also created a serious shock hazard to theuser. In some cases the vibration encountered in the use of theapparatus has been highly disagreeable. The replaceable brushing elementhas in some instances been comparatively expensive.

`It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide aportable electrically actuated brush or the like which can safely besubjected to considerable quantities of water while in use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a portableelectrically actuated appliance adapted to be held in the hand while inuse and so construct-ed as to avoid disagreeable vibration.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electricallydriven tooth brush in which the bristles will be actuated in a highlyeffective manner.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a replaceablebrushing element which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture.

With these and other objects in View, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

In accordance with my invention in its preferred form I provide anelectric motor, which may be of the reciprocating type, andl enclosethis motor in a bag formed of a suitable waterproof material such asrubber. This bag is 'preferably provided with a restricted opening whichmay be stretched to admit the motor and through which extend theelectrical leads to the motor.

The bag is supported within a rigid casing which may be shaped to iitthe hand of the user. A switch for the motor may be located within thebag and arranged to be actuated through the wall of the bag by means ofa push buttonor similar device mounted on the casing. When the inventionis to be used as a tooth brush I secure a Cil hollow arm to the casingand pass a rod through this arm, the rod being reciprocated by themotor. A small brushing element is mounted on the end of this arm, withthe bristles extending substantially at right angles to the arm, andthis brushing element is arranged to be oscillated by the reciprocatingrod about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to both the armand the bristles. The brushing element comprises a backing plate havingbristles extending from its outer face and a lug extending from itsinner face for engagement with the reciprocating rod. 'I he sides o! thelug are shaped to fit opposed bearings carried by the arm, thesebearings preferably being hollow to receive spring-pressed pins whichengage shallow depressions in the lug to hold the brushing elementyieldablyin place.

- Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the inventionand in whichlike reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. lis a side elevation of an electrically actuated tooth brush;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus with half of the casing removed andcertain parts shown in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one half-portion of the casing;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the rubber bag;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the rubber bag;

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the motor stator;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the motor stator;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on the line l3g-l3 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the brushing element.

The embodiment illustrated comprises an electric motor of thereciprocating or vibrating type having a stator 20 formed by a group ofthin laminations of magnetic material held in assembled relationship bymeans of rivets 2|. As shown particularly in Fig. 11, the stator 20 issubstantially E-shaped, with two parallel outer branches or poles 22-22,and a central branch or pole 23. Each outer pole 22 is formed on itsouter side with a projection 25, and the outer corners at the free endsof thepoles 22 are beveled as indicated at 26. The central pole 23 isprovided with a longitudinal cylindrical bore 21 extending inwardly fromits free end. This bore 21 is arranged to receive a coiled compressionspring 28 (Fig. 3) which engages an armature 38 located close to thefree ends of the poles 22 and 23. This'armature is in the form of a barof magnetic material having its end portions 3| substantially parallelto the adjacent beveled suriaces 26 of the stator. The central pole 23of the stator is surrounded by a coil 32 oi.' insulated wire arranged tobe supplied with an alternating electric current, so that the armature30 may be reciprocated toward and away from the stator in a well-knownmanner.

The motor is enclosed in a bag 34 o! a ilexible water-proof material,such as rubber, formed at one end with a ilanged neck 35 which providesa restricted circular opening 38. The rubber is 'sufficiently elastic toallow the opening to be stretched for the insertion of the various partsof the motor therethrough at assembly. The bag 34 is enclosed in a rigidhollow casing 31 which is preferably shaped in the approximate form ofan ovoid of a size adapted to be held readily by the user in one hand.This casing is divided along a central longitudinal plane into twoseparable parts which are held together by means of screws 38 (Fig. 2).An opening 38 is provided at one end of the casing, this' opening beingshaped to receive the ilanged neck 35 of the bag and form a tight jointtherewith. As shown particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, each haii' of thecasing is formed with two pairs cf spaced lugs 4| which project inwardlyfrom opposite sides oi' the casing, and a boss 42 adjacent each pair oflugs arranged to provide a ilat shelf. When the parts are assembled, asshown in Figs. 3 and 5, the pro- Jections 25 on the motor stator 20 liebetween the ipairs of lugs 4| and also between the bosses 42.

These lugs and bosses hold the' wall of the bag firmly against theprojections 25 and thus prevent appreciable movement of the statorrelative to the casing. Since the rubber forming the bag is ofsubstantial thickness it will absorb to a considerable extent theVibrations resulting from the operation voi the motor.

The motor is preferably controlled by means of an electric switchlocated within the interior o1' the bag 34 and actuated manually fromthe outside of the casing 31. For this purpose a switch block 44 ofinsulating material (Figs. 3 and 4) is attached by means oi screws 45 tothe rear end of the stator 20, adjacent the opening 36 in the bag. Thisblock 44 is recessed to regg assaosa the rod 51 is welded or otherwisesecured to a Plate. 58 (Fig. 3) which contacts with the outer surfacesof the bag 34, and this plate is fastened to the armature by means ofrivets 58 which pass through the wall of the bag, and are insulated tromthe plate. A coiled compression spring 68 surrounds the rear portion ofthe rod 51. the iront end of this spring being supported in a recess 8'Iin the casing 31 and the rear end oi the spring engaging the plate 58 tourge it rearwardly in opposition to the force of the spring 28. I'he twosprings 28 and 60 thus hold the armature 30 yieldably in a predeterminedposition so long as the coil 32 is de-energized. 'I'he rod 51 isslidably supported in a. suitable guideway shown as a tube 62 of squarecross-section having a flange 63 at its rear end. The rear portion ofthe tube 62 is mounted in a correspondingly shaped recess 64 .in thecasing 31.

A hollow arm 68 nts over the outside of the tube 62 and is releasablysecured thereon by means of a small set-screw 61 located near the rearend of the arm. At its front end the arm 66 is slightly enlarged andprovided with a lateral opening 68 substantially rectangular in shape,as shown in Fig. 1. Within the opening 68 there is mounted a brushingelement 10 comprising a backing plate 1| with bristles 12 extending fromits outer face and a lug 13 on its inner face. It will be noted fromFigs. 2 and 3 that the bristles 12 which form the operative surface ofthe brush,

project outwardly from the opening 68 substanceive a pair of springcontacts 46 and 41 which j are normally separated by a slight space. Thecasing 31 is provided with an opening 43i inwhlch there is mounted apush button 50, this push button being so located that it may be pressedinwardly against the outer surface oi the bag 34 andthus force thecontact 46 inwardly against the contact 41 to close the switch.Alternating electric current is supplied by means of a cord 5| whichpasses through the opening 36 in the bag, this cord having a bushing orenlargement 52 thereon which ts tightly Within the opening 38 inthecasing and the opening 36 in. the bag. to exclude all moisture. The cord5| is provided with a conductor 53 which leads to the contact 46 andwith a, conductor 54 which leads to the coil 32. This coil is alsoconnected to the con tact 41 by'means oi' a conductor 55. With thisarrangement the coil will be energized when the switch is closed.

, The armature 30 is arranged to actuate a reciprocable rod 51,preferably square in crosssection, which extends forwardly in adirection perpendicular to the armature. The rear end Of tially at rightangles to the arm 66.

The brushing element 10 is arranged to be osciliated by the rod 51 aboutan axis substantially perpendicular to both the arm 66 and the bristles12, this axis being located between the rod 51 and the bristles. Forthis purpose two bearings 15 (Fig. i3) are mounted on opposite sides ofthe opening 68 and extend into recesses 16 on opposite sides of' the lug13. Each recess 16 is shaped to form a guide groove'extendng away fromthe plate 1| to the inner end of the lug, so that the brushing elementmay be inserted and withdrawn through the opening 68 without disturbingthe bearings. In order that the brushing element may be held yieldablyin place, the bearings 15 are made tubular to receive small slidablepins or plungers 11 which are urged inwardly by small coiled compressionsprings 18. The inner ends o1' the pins 11 arewell rounded, and engageshallow depressions 13 at the bottoms of the grooves 16 inthe sides ofthe lug 13. Inward movement of the pins 11, when the brushing element 16has been removed, is limited by in-turned ilanges on the inner ends oithe bearings 15. The outer ends of the bearings are closed to supportthe spring 16. Flanges 8| are formed on the bearings to hold them firmlyin position in, the walls of the opening 68. The inner end of the lug 13is formed with a transverse notch 83, and the rod 51 is provided at itsrear end with a tooth 84 arranged to iit within the notchy 83 when theparts are assembled, so that reciprocation of the rod in the guideway 62will cause the brushing element to oscillate about the bearings 15.Since the axis of oscillation is much nearer to the notch 83 than to theouter ends of the bristles 12, these outer ends will swing through anarc of appreciable length even though the amplitude of movement of therod be rather small.

The operation of the invention will now be apl parent from the abovedisclosure. The user will hold the casing 31 in one hand, and bypressing opening 6B. The arm 66 can then be withdrawn y from the tube 62after releasing the set-screw 61. A separate brushing element 'I0 andarm 66 may be provided for the use of each member of a family, only onecasing and motor being required.

Water cannot damage the apparatus, since the switch and motor areentirely enclosed in the water-proof rubber bag 34. This bag also ab-4sorbs much of the vibration of the motor and serves as an excellentinsulating shield to protect the user from possible shock hazard. Thebrushing element 10 is of a simple and inexpensive construction, and isreadily replaceable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrically actuated brush comprising an electric motor, a casingenclosing the motor, a hollow arm secured to the casing and having alateral opening in its outer end, a rod extending through the arm andarranged to be reciprocated by the motor, a brushing element mounted inthe opening and having bristles which extend outwardly from the opening,two aligned tubular bearings mounted on opposite sides of the opening,and arranged to support the brushing element for oscillation about anaxis substantially perpendicular to both the arms and the bristles, thebrushing element having a shallow depression adjacent each bearing,spring-pressed pins slidably supported in the bearings and arranged toenter the depressions and thus hold the brushing element yieldably inposition, and means connecting the rod to the brushing eley ment toosclllate the element about said axis.

2. A brushing element for a power actuated brush comprising a plate,means associated with the outer face of the plate to provide anoperative surface for the element, and a lug extending from the innerface of the plate, the lug havlng guide grooves on opposite sidesthereof which extend away from the plate to the end of the lug.

3. A brushing element for a power actuated brush comprising a plate,means associated with the outer face of the plate to provide anoperative surface for the element, and a lug extending from the innerface of the plate, the lug having guide grooves on opposite sidesthereof which extend away from the plate to the end of the lug,

the lug having a shallow depression therein at the bottom of eachgroove.

4. A power actuated brush or the like comprising a hollow arm having alateral opening in one end, a rod extending through the arm, power meansto reciprocate the rod, a brushing element including a plate mounted inthe opening, means associated with the outer face of the plate toprovide an operative surface for the element, a lug extending from theinner face of the plate inwardly of the opening and toward the rod,means engaging the lug and supporting the same for oscillation about anaxis extending substantially perpendicular to both the arm and to thedirection in which the said operative surface is faced, the axis beinglocated between the rod and the said operative surface, andinter-engaging parts on the rod and the inner end of the lug whereby therod serves to oscillate the element about said axis.

5. A power actuated brush or the like comprising a hollow arm having alateral opening in one end, a rod extending through the arm, power meansto reciprocate the rod, a brushing element including a plate mounted inthe opening, means associated with the outer face of the plate toprovide an operative surface for the element, a lug extending from theinner face of the plate inwardly of the opening and toward the rod, thelug having guide grooves on opposite sides thereof which extend awayfrom the plate to the end oi the lug, two aligned bearings mounted on opposite sides of the opening and engaging the grooves to support the lug,and inter-engaging parts on the rod and the inner end of the lug wherebythe rod serves to oscillate the brushing element about the bearings.

6. A power actuated brush or the like comprising a hollow arm having alateral opening in one end, a rod extending through the arm, power meansto reciprocate the rod, a brushing element mounted in the opening, saidelement having an operative surface facing outwardly of the opening andtwo guide grooves on opposite sides which extend to the inner end of theelement, two aligned bearings mounted on opposite sides of the openingand extending into said guide grooves to support the brushing elementfor oscillation about an axis substantially perpendicular to both thearm and to the direction in which the said operative surface is faced,the brushing element having a shallow depression in each guide groove,spring-pressed devices supported in the bearings and arranged to enterthe depressions and thus hold the brushing element yieldably againstwithdrawal outwardly oi said opening, and means connecting the rod tothe brushing element to oscillate the element about said axis.

DWIGHT C. DANIELS.

